Dear River Protector,

This month we launched a new name and look to emphasize our commitment to protect and connect people with Georgia rivers.

We are Georgia Rivers!

When I say "we", that includes you. You are an essential part of our work to protect rivers and water trails in Georgia and inspire river recreation across the state. Thank you for being part of Georgia Rivers!

Read this month's newsletter to celebrate winners of the Paddle-a-thon, learn how you can speak up to help protect public access to float Georgia rivers, and hear the latest news on an exciting proposal that could protect the Okefenokee.

Yours in river recreation and conservation, 

Rena Ann Peck

Executive Director

House Study Committee Meeting on Navigable Streams Nov. 13

The right to float down small streams in boats has been part of Georgia’s common law since before statehood, but that right is now in jeopardy. One proposal currently under consideration by our state legislators would guarantee our right to float down just 5 percent of Georgia's 70,000 miles of rivers and streams. The legislature must act to protect our freedom to float and Georgia’s record-setting tourism and outdoor recreation industry. 

The final meeting of the House Study Committee on Navigable Streams and Related Matters is scheduled for November 13 at 9 a.m. at the Donald W. Nixon Centre for Performing & Visual Arts in Newnan.

Read our recent letter to the committee for a summary of the issue and our recommendations for protecting our freedom to float.

Boaters are encouraged to attend the meeting and speak during the public comment portion of the agenda. Please share why public access on all streams is important to you, and why Georgia should protect existing uses on our rivers and streams. This is expected to be the last opportunity for public input prior to the committee making recommendations to the full General Assembly on Dec. 1.  



If you are not able to attend the meeting, you can still take action by using our form to contact your legislator and ask them to protect Georgia's robust outdoor recreation community and economy by supporting laws that protect right of passage.

"Agency floats expanding Okefenokee refuge into land tabbed for mine"

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service announced a proposal to expand its acquisition boundary by adding 22,000 acres to the roughly 407,000-acre Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge. This expansion would include land where Alabama-based Twin Pines Minerals plans to extract titanium sands.

This boundary expansion proposal is a step in the right direction toward protecting the swamp and Trail Ridge.

“Scientists say that to protect what’s inside the swamp, you have to protect what’s on the outside and that’s Trail Ridge, the hydrogeologic dam holding water in the swamp,” Rena Ann Peck said in a statement for the Atlanta Journal-Constitution.

Read more about the proposed expansion in an article by the AJC.

Take action to protect Trail Ridge and the Okefenokee by telling the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service they have your support to expand the boundary of the Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge. Use our form to submit your comment by November 18.

Okefenokee Festival Fun!

Our gator visited the annual Okefenokee Festival in Folkston that showcases the best of the charm and culture of the swamp community. He got third place in the swamp hollerin' contest!

Paddlesports Instructors Celebration

We are so excited to celebrate the success of our Georgia Rivers Beaver Crew program! We recently gathered as a paddling family to congratulate the new instructors and begin planning for 2025.

Over the past 3 years, this program has helped 41 emerging paddlesports leaders get certified as ACA instructors, including 19 instructors who are paddlers of color or otherwise represent diverse populations.

In 2024 we brought 13 new instructors into the family and helped several already certified instructors expand their training and certifications to include new paddling disciplines, new credentials they can deliver, and, in some cases, to teach on more advanced waterways.

If you know some awesome future instructors, keep your eyes open for our announcements for the 2025 scholarship and training program in February.

Paddle-a-thon 2024: Freedom to Float

Our annual Paddle-a-thon is a friendly peer-to-peer fundraiser competition between individuals and teams alike to raise money, take more paddle trips and rack up miles on our rivers and streams. After paddling for months, the competition is complete and it's time to celebrate the many adventures of our paddlers!

83 Paddle-a-thon participants across the state paddled a total of 4,482 miles, raising over $24,000 for freedom to float! 635 adventure logs were submitted which gave us valuable data to show state officials where paddlers visit established water trails.

Thank you for paddling with us!

A big round of applause for the winners of each Paddle-a-thon category!

Best Adventure Photo: Angie Nicolletta

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